Car-step.



J JACKSON.

GAR STEP.

- APPLIOATION FILED 11110.30, 1911.

1,021,046. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

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cOLUMHIA PLANoouAPn c0.v WASHINGTON. u. 1:.

UNITED STATES rAtrENrr OFFICE.

JAMES JACKSON, 0]? UNADELLA TOWNSHIP, LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1911.

Serial No. 668,768.

ticularly to that class of car steps in which a lower extendible step is included and which is particularly designed for being folded out of the way when the train is in motion.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an extendible car step of a simple and durable construction, in which the operation of adjusting the extendible member to its operative or folded-back position can be conveniently and quickly accomplished, and in which the several parts are correlatively so arranged that the extendible or lower step will sustain great weight.

l/Vit-h other objects in view that will hereinafter appear my invention consists in the peculiar and novel arrangement and combination of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully explained, specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved car step, the lower step being shown at its down or extended position. Fig. 2, is a similar view that illustrates the manner in which the lowermost step is swung upwardly to its folded position. Fig. 3, is a section on the line 33 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a similar view on the line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is a further detail view thereof. Fig. 6, is a cross section thereof taken on the line 6-6 on Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail cross section taken on the line 7-7 on Fig. 1. Fig. 8, is a detail perspective View of one end of the foldable step and the connections that join it with its respective hanger arm, the several parts being shown as separated.

In carrying out my invention, the same is applied to an ordinary car step, as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by reference to which it will be noticed that the side memher 9 and the fixed steps 7 and 8 are fixedly held between the said side members and are of the conventional form.

5 designates the extendible step, and the same, in my construction, has its opposite ends provided with recesses 50 to receive metal hanger blocks 2, each of'which comprises a bifurcated body, the upper and lower edges of which slip over the ends of the said step 5 and are made fast thereto by the bolts 51 and nuts 52, the bolts pass ing through the apertures 53 in the said step ends and through alining apertures 21-21 in the blocks 2, as is best shown in Fig. (3. The outer faces of the blocks 2,

when the said blocks are secured to the step 5, lie flush with the outer edges 54 of the step and the said outer faces of the blocks 2 each have a stop lug 22 and a pintle 2 1, the purpose of which will presently appear.

3-3 designate cap plates of which there is one for each end of the step 5 and each of the said plates includes bifurcations or inwardly extended ears 30 that project over the front and rear portions 55 of the step ends to which they are secured by the screw bolts 35 that extend through the apertures 36 and like apertures 56 in the step 5. The body portion of each cap plate 3 has an aperture 31 to receive the pintle 24: of the hanger blocks and the said body portions also act as keepers for holding the lower ends of the hanger irons 1 on the said pintles 24 as is best shown in Fig. 6, of the drawing.

4 designates brackets that are pendently secured on the underside of the lowermost one of the fixedly held steps and they are secured near the front edge of the said step and adjacent the side step members 9. The brackets 4 are lengthwise grooved on the lower edge to brace the upper ends of the hanger irons 1, the said upper ends having apertures 10 to receive the stud bolts 12 that also pass through the lower ends of the step sides 9-9 and through apertures 46 in the brackets 4, the bolts being received by the nuts 47.

To facilitate the upswing of the extendible step, the upper ends of the hanger arms 1-1 are curved into a substantial U shape and by reason thereof the step 5 when swung up can be readily adjusted to fit fiatwise against the pendent member 70 of the step 7, above the lowermost fixed step 8, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, and furthermore the said curvature of the arms provides a bearing for the irons against the brackets to hold the irons to a predetermined position when swung down.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the drawing, the complete arrange- Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

ment, the manner of its adjustment and the advantages of my invention will be readily apparent. It will be noticed that by connecting the extendible or auxiliary step to the lower ends of the hanger irons as shown and described and providing the hanger blocks with stop lugs 22, the said step 5 is rotatably supported to swing on its pivots in one direction, whereby it can be fiatwise folded up against the pendent portion of the upper fixed step as shown in Fig. 8, and when down to its extended position the said step is locked from tilting down below its horizontal position, as will be readily apparent by referring to Fig. 8.

lVhat I claim is 1. An extendible step for car steps, the latter including a pair of fixedly held tread members, and a pair of hanger irons pivotally suspended from the lowermost one of the said tread members to drop to and be held at a predetermined position, an auxiliary step pivotally mounted between the lower ends of the hanger irons, the said hanger irons being shaped to swing up over the tread member from which they are suspended, the auxiliary step having radial movement upon its pivots whereby to swing to a vertical position under the fixedly held tread member when the said hanger irons are swung upwardly, and means on the auxiliary step for engaging the hanger irons whereby to hold the said auxiliary step against tilting downwardly when it has been dropped to its extended position.

2. An attachment for car steps in which is included a set of steps, brackets pendent from the lower one of the said set of steps, an auxiliary step, metallic end members secured to said auxiliary step having recesses and stud pivots, hanger irons pivotally hung at their upper ends from the lowermost one of the fixedly held steps, and means on the auxiliary step for locking the said step from tilting downward when it has been dropped to its extended position.

3. An attachment for car steps which includes a set of tread members, brackets secured beneath the lower tread member, an auxiliary tread member, edge members secured to the said auxiliary tread member and having recesses, bearing blocks cooperatively mounted in the said recesses, hanger irons pivoted at their ends to the said bearing blocks and to said brackets, said hanger irons having substantially U-shaped upper ends to rest beneath the lower tread member, and hold said auxiliary tread member in ppsition when extended, said Ushaped portions of said irons receiving the front edge of said lower fixed tread member when said auxiliary tread member is in its folded position.

4. An attachment for car steps, which comprises in combination with a set of fixedly held tread members and pendent brackets on the lowermost one of said steps, said brackets being longitudinally recessed on their under faces; of a pair of hanger irons pivotally supported in the recessed brackets and having stop portions for engaging the said brackets for holding the hanger irons to a predetermined pendent position, an auxiliary tread member pivotally hung between the lower ends of the. said hanger irons and adapted to swing inwardly to a vertical position, and means on the said auxiliary tread member for engaging the said hanger irons and holdingthe said auxiliary step from tilting downwardly when the said step is at its down or extended position.

5. An attachment for car steps comprising a pair of pendent hanger irons, the upper ends of which are shaped to lie flatwise against the fixedly held step member, means for pivotally supporting the said hanger irons on the said fixedly held step member, an auxiliary step member support between the lower ends of the opposite hanger irons, a bearing block mounted on each end of the auxiliary step, said bearing blocks having pivot studs, a cap plate for each end of the auxiliary step member that extends over the bearing blocks, and hanger irons having apertures at their lower ends for receiving the pivot studs, the cap plates having portions acting as keepers for holding the said hanger irons on the said steps, and lugs on the hanger blocks for engaging the lower ends of the hanger irons for holding the auxiliary steps against tilting forwardly and downwardly when at its lowermost position.

JAMES JACKSON.

Witnesses:

EDWIN FAsMER, E. B. OSTRANDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

